IPS panels for school toilets
IPS stands for integrated plumbing system: a frame that carries the cisterns, pipes and valves, faced with panels that lock shut. The pans and basins come through the panel, and everything that leaks, breaks or gets tampered with sits behind it.
In a school that matters. A supplier list price for a duct panel set starts at about £315 per WC before VAT, supply only.
Why schools use IPS
- Pupils cannot reach cisterns, flush valves or pipes, so there are fewer floods and blockages to clear.
- Lockable access panels let the site team fix a fault in minutes without lifting tiles.
- Flat surfaces with few joints are far quicker to clean than exposed pipework.
- Back-to-wall pans leave the floor clear for mopping under and around them.
- The same system carries the basins and urinals, so the room looks finished and consistent.
IPS prices
| Item | Guide price, ex VAT |
|---|---|
| IPS duct panel set Per WC, laminate panels, supply only | From £315 |
| A block refit including IPS Typical boys’ and girls’ room with cubicles, IPS, sanitaryware and finishes | £25k to £30k |
Where these figures come from
Panel set prices are list prices before VAT from published UK washroom supplier price lists, autumn 2026; the frame, pans, cisterns and fitting are extra. The refit figure comes from published UK contractor price guides, autumn 2026. A guide, not a quote.
What a good IPS installation has
The details that decide whether a school washroom still works in ten years.
A frame that is plumb and fixed
A steel or timber frame fixed to the floor and wall, carrying the cisterns and the support for wall-hung pans where used.
Moisture-proof panels
HPL faced or solid grade laminate panels; avoid bare chipboard edges in pupil areas.
Access where it is needed
Hinged, lockable panels in front of every cistern and valve, as Hampshire’s standard design specifies.
Push-button or sensor flush
Flush plates mounted through the panel, or infrared flushing for urinals, with nothing loose to pull.
Duct depth planned
The duct takes floor space. Check it on the scale drawing before you fix the number of cubicles.
Matched to the cubicles
Same material and colour family as the cubicles, with the cubicle partitions finishing neatly against the duct.
IPS usually goes in as part of a block refit. Send us the brief for the whole room.
Ask for a free quoteHow IPS goes in
Strip out
Old pans, cisterns and exposed pipes come out, and the soil and water connections are checked.
Frame and first fix
The frame goes up, then the cisterns, supply pipes and waste connections.
Panels
The panels are fitted with access doors at each cistern and valve.
Second fix
Pans, basins, urinals and flush plates go on, then the system is tested and flushed.
Questions people ask
What are IPS panels?
IPS panels are the facing of an integrated plumbing system: a framed duct that hides cisterns, pipes and valves behind panels, with lockable access for maintenance.
How much do IPS panels cost?
List prices for a duct panel set start at about £315 per WC before VAT, supply only. The frame, sanitaryware and fitting add to that.
Are IPS panels worth it in a school?
Usually yes. Hiding cisterns and pipes cuts tampering, floods and cleaning time, and lockable panels make repairs faster. Most school refits include them.
Half height or full height IPS?
Half height is common behind WCs and urinals; full height gives a cleaner look and hides more pipework. The choice is mostly about budget and appearance.
Get quotes for IPS and panels
Three short steps: where the school is, what the block needs, and how to reach you. It takes about two minutes.
This is a free matching service, not a washroom contractor. We find one who covers your area and name them to you first. Nobody contacts you until you say yes.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- Within one working day we will email or call to tell you which washroom contractor covers your area.
- Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They look at the site and give you a fixed price. No marketing from us, ever.